6 h. ago I’m in my 20s with lots of online friends, but can’t seem to connect IRL

There’s this idea that friendships should just happen, but they need input and confidence• Every week Annalisa Barbieri addresses a problem sent in by a readerA couple of years ago, I moved to a new city. The pandemic put my university plans permanently on hold, and I’ve recently started working full time. I built up a sizeable network of online friends during and after the pandemic, but I’ve found myself craving real-life friends to interact with more often.I don’t drink and I’m struggling to find activities for people my age that I’m interested in. Apart from a few at my job, I haven’t been able to make any new friends, and my contact with old school friends has become less and less frequent. Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago I’m in my 20s with lots of online friends, but can’t seem to connect IRL | Ask Annalisa Barbieri

There’s this idea that friendships should just happen, but they need input and confidence• Every week Annalisa Barbieri addresses a problem sent in by a readerA couple of years ago, I moved to a new city. The pandemic put my university plans permanently on hold, and I’ve recently started working full time. I built up a sizeable network of online friends during and after the pandemic, but I’ve found myself craving real-life friends to interact with more often.I don’t drink and I’m struggling to find activities for people my age that I’m interested in. Apart from a few at my job, I haven’t been able to make any new friends, and my contact with old school friends has become less and less frequent. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago I’m smitten, but does my boyfriend’s dysfunctional family bode ill for our future? | Annalisa Barbieri

How we’re parented deeply affects us but it doesn’t determine how we are as parents ourselves. It sounds as if your boyfriend understands thisEvery week Annalisa Barbieri addresses a problem sent in by a readerI have been dating my boyfriend (we are both in our 20s) for almost a year. I’m absolutely smitten. He makes me feel a better person, and I believe we are really good together.Sadly, he doesn’t have a very good relationship with his family. I haven’t really seen this play out because I’ve not seen them together that often, but he’s told me about his childhood and that he discusses his family in his regular therapy sessions. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago I’m smitten, but does my boyfriend’s dysfunctional family bode ill for our future? | Ask Annalisa Barbieri

How we’re parented deeply affects us but it doesn’t determine how we are as parents ourselves. It sounds as if your boyfriend understands thisEvery week Annalisa Barbieri addresses a problem sent in by a readerI have been dating my boyfriend (we are both in our 20s) for almost a year. I’m absolutely smitten. He makes me feel a better person, and I believe we are really good together.Sadly, he doesn’t have a very good relationship with his family. I haven’t really seen this play out because I’ve not seen them together that often, but he’s told me about his childhood and that he discusses his family in his regular therapy sessions. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago My mum won’t let me have a smartphone. Is she being unfair? | Ask Annalisa Barbieri

There are genuine concerns about young people using social media, but the main thing is that you talk to your parents about it• Every week Annalisa Barbieri addresses a problem sent in by a readerMy mum has always been protective, and I fear it is destroying my social life because I haven’t grown up with much access to social media. I don’t mean to say it’s OK to be exposed to social media at a young age, but it needs to be controlled in a certain way.Because I had a flip phone until the middle of secondary school, I haven’t had a TikTok or Snapchat streak with anyone because I never learned how it works. I know this might sound like me complaining over nothing, but it sometimes feels like my mum is purposely doing this to damage me. Continue reading...

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4 w. ago I worry that I don’t ‘get’ romance and am disappointing my husband

You’ve been married for 50 years and you’re in love, so maybe you just speak a different ‘love language’• Every week Annalisa Barbieri addresses a problem sent in by a readerI have been married to my husband for more than 50 years. We married as teenagers and are now in our 70s. We love each other, and are in love.The problem is I don’t appear to have a romantic bone in my body. My husband is romantic, and I either never notice or I think, “What’s the point?” I do try, but it always seems perfunctory, and I know he is disappointed when I don’t “get it”. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago I worry that I don’t ‘get’ romance and am disappointing my husband | Ask Annalisa Barbieri

You’ve been married for 50 years and you’re in love, so maybe you just speak a different ‘love language’• Every week Annalisa Barbieri addresses a problem sent in by a readerI have been married to my husband for more than 50 years. We married as teenagers and are now in our 70s. We love each other, and are in love.The problem is I don’t appear to have a romantic bone in my body. My husband is romantic, and I either never notice or I think, “What’s the point?” I do try, but it always seems perfunctory, and I know he is disappointed when I don’t “get it”. Continue reading...

Politics